Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Get Over Yourself

“Get over yourself!” When I hear that expression, I am reminded of C.S. Lewis, who defined humility as not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. I like that definition. It is connected to our readings for this weekend.

Paul’s letter to Timothy models humility. Even though the community did not support him, he does not hold that against them. God is his center, so even death is not to be feared. Paul exhorts us to be God-centered at all times and to glorify God by treating others as God does. That means living the justice that attends to the needs of all and seeks their good. Since the Lord is just, we must be, too.

So as we prepare to celebrate the Eucharist, our coming together as a community that values and needs each other, we pray that God opens our eyes to the needs of those who suffer injustice. We pray that our attitudes and actions reflect both humility and the justice God desires for all. A great reminder of that is the Prayer of St. Francis:

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen